Stop mechanism for can sealing machines or the like



Oct. 25, 1932. A. K. MALMQUIST 1,884,782

STOP MECHANISM FOR CAN SEALING MACHINES OR THE LIKE I Filed April 28,1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 25, 1932. MALMQU|$T 1,884,782

STOP MECHANISM FOR CAN SEALING MACHINES OR THE LIKE Filed April 28, 19302 Sheets-Sheet 2 I gwuantoz I flKMaZmgaisZ;

L I T U. 4 I v 61m Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES ADOLIPH K.MALMQUIST, 01 SOUTH BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON STOP MECHANISM FOR CANSEALING MACHINES OR THE Application filed April 28, 1930. Serial No.448,144.

This invention relates to improvements in stopping mechanism for vacuumcanning machines or the like. i

More specifically, the invention pertains to g improvements in canningmachines where vacuum is employed in the sealing operation.

There has been considerable loss in the operation of vacuum machines, asthey frequently start to run on cans, and the operator forgets to startthe vacuum pump. At other times, the machine may have been stopped inthe middle of a run for one reason or another, and at such time, thevacuum valve is closed.

Then, in starting up again, the operator may forget to open the vacuumvalve, and several cans will be passed through the machine and closed,but not vacuumized, or in case of syruping, the cans would run throughwithoutany syrup. Such cans must be opened 2 0 again, or the contentswill be spoiled, and this, of course, means a loss of time and cans.

The primary object of my invention is to prevent this loss, and further,to make a device for eliminating this disadvantage, which will be simpleand absolutely reliable, and which will require no attention on the partof the operator.

A further object is to provide a machine of this character with a stopwhich will project into the path of movement of the cans to or throughthe machine, this stop being normally held in retracted position bymeans of the vacuum system of the machine. As soon as the vacuum is cutoff for any reason, a spring immediately projects the stop into the pathof movement of the cans, and thereby prevents the cans from passingthrough the machine, even though the latter is in motion.

l/Vith the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in viewwhich will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists inthe novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved mechanism, and so much of avacuum canning machine as is essential for the purpose EL of disclosingthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improvements.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view, partly in horizontal section, of aportion of my stop mechanism.

While my improvements may be employed with various types of vacuumcanning machines, I have shown the same in Fig. 1 incorporated in a cansealing machine of the kind illustrated in my application Serial No.309,979, filed October 3rd, 1928. i

Portions of such a can sealing machine are shown at 4, and this machineis provided with a conventional vacuum tank 5, having a pipe 6 whichleads to the machine, and a pipe 7 which leads to a vacuum pump, notshown. The hand controlled valve of this vacuum tank is designated 8. I

The cans fed to the machine, pass from a runway 9 having side guide bars10, on to a conveyor or feed belt 11, which moves the cans into themachine, and in accordance wfth my invention, I-provi de a stop pin orelement 12 to intercept the cans moving along the feed path, in caseatmospheric conditions occur in the tank 5. For instance, when the valve8 is closed to prevent the vacuum pump from creating a vacuum in thetank 5, or when said pump is idle.

For the purposes of the present invention, one of the side guides 10 isprovided with a vertical plate 13, into which is screwed the forward endof a cylinder 14. The pin 12 is rigidly united with one end of a piston15, which can reciprocate in the cylinder, and one of the gu des 10forms the forward end of the cylinder, and has an aperture 16 throughwhich the pin may project.

A coil spring 17 in the cylinder, moves the stop pin into projectingposition, and one end of this spring surrounds a projecting shank 18which is rigidly united'with the in ner end of the piston.

A pipe fitting 19 has a threaded connection with the rear end of thecylinder, and proj ects into the rear end of the spring, for holding thelatter in place, and also to form a stationary stop to be engaged by theshank 18 for limiting the inward movement of the stop pin 12.

A tube 20 connects the fitting 19 to the vacting off of the vacuum toproject said eleuum tank 5 and of course, the joints are sealed, so thateach time a vacuum is created In the tank 5, atmospheric pressure willcause the piston 15 to move into its cylinder, so as to hold the stoppin 12 out of the path of movement of the .cans 21.

In operation, it will be understood that so long as a vacuum exists inthe tank 5, the" 3 stop pin 12 will not interfere with the travel ofthecans, but as soon as atmospheric conditions prevailinthe vacuumtank,,the'spring 17 will immediately project the pin 12 into the path ofmovement ofthe cans, so that the latter cannot pass through the machine,even though the'latter 'co'nt-inuesto operate. This stop mechanism willnot alone act as can stopping means, but will act as an'indicator tonotify the operator that he must start the i vacuum pump or open thevalve 8.

It is clear from the above that my improved mechanism will prevent thesealing of cans which have not been vacuumized, and will thus save thecans and the time required to open improperly sealed cans, and totransfer their contents to unsealed cans.

' VVhileI have described the invention for use with can sealingmachines, it is manifest k that my improvements may be used with anymachine in which a Vacuum tank or the like is used, and may be employedfor stopping the feed of any article through the machine in case thevacuum is cut off. I

' From the foregoing it is believed that the construction, operation andadvantages of the invention may be readily'understood by those skilledin the art, and I am aware that changes may be made in the detailsdisclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, asexpressed in the claims. 7

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I V 1. In amachine of the character described, a runway along which articles arefed, a stop elementi'or obstructing said runway, vacuum operated meansfor normally holding the stop element in. retracted position, and meansfunctioning when the vacuum is cut off for projecting the stop elementinto obstructing position. p

2. In a machine of the character described, a runway along which cansare fed, a stop element adapted to obstruct said runway, a vacuumoperated means for normally holding the stop element in. retractedposition, and means functioning when the vacuum is out off to projectthe stop element into can obstructing position.

a runway along which cans are fed, a stop element adapted to obstructsaid runway, means including a vacuum tank for normally holding thestopelement in retracted position, and a spring functioning upon the cut- 3.In a machine of the characterdescribed,

ment into can obstructing position.

4. A can sealing machine or the llke, comprising a can runway, acylinder mounted adjacent to the runway, a piston in the cylinderprovided with a stop element adapted to obstruct said runway, vacuumcontrolled means for normally holding the piston and stop element inretracted position, and means functioning when the vacuum is out ofi forcausing the piston to move the stop element into canobstructing'position.

5. A can sealing machine having a can run- .way and a Vacuum tank, acylinder mounted cut off, to cause the piston to project the stopelement into obstructing position.

6. A can sealing machine having a can T runway and a vacuum tank, acylinder mounted adjacent to the runway, a piston in the cylinderprovided with a stop element adapted to obstruct the runway, meansplacing the vacuum tank in communication with the cylinder, whereby whenreduced pressure exists in the vacuum tank, the piston will hold thestop element in retracted position, and means for moving the piston whenthe vacuum is cut off, to cause the piston to project the stop elementinto obstructing position, the last mentioned means comprising a springarranged in said cylinder.

7. A can sealing machine having vacuum means and a can runway, acylinder mounted adjacent to the runway and having its interiorcommunicating with said vacuum means, a piston in the cylinder adaptedto .be held at one end of the cylinder by said vacuum means, a stopelement rigidly united with the piston and'adapted to obstructtherunway, and a spring in the cylinder for moving the piston into positionto, project the stop element when reduced pressure in the vacuum meansis cut off.

8. In a machine of the character described, a vacuum tank having avalved connection adapted to lead to a vacuum pump, a can runway, acylinder mounted adjacent to the runway, a conduit placing the interiorof the cylinder in oommunication'with said tank, a piston in thecylinder adapted to be held in retracted position by sub-atmosphericpressure in the vacuum tank, a stop pin carried 7 a can runway providedwith a guide, a cylinder having one of its ends rigidly connected tosaid guide, Vacuum means, a conduit connecting the other end of thecylinder to said vacuum means, a piston in the cylinder provided with astop pin adapted to obstruct said runway, and a spring for yieldinglyholding the stop pin in projected position.-

10. In a machine of the character described, a can runway, a conveyorfor feeding cans along the runway, a stop element for obstructing saidrunway while the conveyor is in motion, vacuum operated means fornormally holding the stop element in retracted position, and meansfunctioning when the vacuum is cut off for projecting the stop elementinto obstructing position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

ADOLPH K. MALMQUIST.

